Voices of Vicenza

Visit The Garrison Outlook's Italian News Summaries for these stories and more @ https://www.army.mil/article/287177/italian_news_highlights Vicenza turns French for Easter weekend. The French Regional Market returns to Vicenza from 3 to 6 April. Visitors can explore a charming corner of France featuring standout food, wine and traditional crafts.Easter Monday at Peace Park brings music, street food, all-day outdoor funThe Peace Park will become the focus of Easter Monday celebrations, offering music, food and outdoor fun from morning to night. The event blends the traditional holiday picnic with modern “soft clubbing,” encouraging visitors to enjoy music in a laid‑back, sunlit setting. Admission is free, and organizers urge attendees to arrive early and use bikes or public transit due to expected crowds.Bassano to showcase Italian regional specialties this weekend – March 24, VicenzaTodayBell’Italia Tour arrives in Bassano del Grappa’s Piazza Libertà on April 4–6, offering three days of regional food and artisan products from across Italy. The market runs from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.https://www.army.mil/Italy

Bagels, Bunnies, and Backroads (Where to find all three here in Italy) [There's a new cafe supporting special needs. 2 great hiking trails, and a new driving range near Del Din] ep. 15 VIDEO version

There's a new cafe supporting special needs. 2 great hiking trails, and a new driving range near Del Din. For stories like this visit our twice weekly Italian News summaries for fun and unique things going on in your neighborhood.https://www.army.mil/article/287177/italian_news_highlights Bagels, Bunnies, and Backroads (Where to find all three here in Italy) ep. 15 AUDIO version

We sat down with the U.S. Army Garrison Italy Provost Marshal, Lt. Col. Jonathan Kuhn to discuss the thousands of euros of traffic related fines the VMC is getting. Some tickets are for speeding but most commonly they are ZTL fines, for entering limited traffic zones reserved for residents of many Italian city centers. See our in depth article on ZTL's here on The Garrison Outlook https://www.army.mil/italy (scroll down until you see the ZTL article)

Happy Birthday USO on 85 years of supporting the troops around the world!Stop by USO Vicenza for their celebration on Feb. 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Snacks, games and prizes and a home away from home. Say hi to the USO Vicenza team and tell them the USAG Italy PAO told you about this special birthday celebration. To volunteer at the USO visit https://www.uso.org/take-action/volunteer https://italy.uso.org/uso-vicenzahttps://www.facebook.com/vicenzauso/uso.orgContact info: +39 0444 71-4775 vicenza@uso.org

🎙️ New Year, New You – Tune In! ✨Ready to make 2026 your best year yet? In our latest podcast, we dive into the art of setting—and actually keeping—New Year’s resolutions. From fitness goals to financial habits, we’ll share practical tips, inspiring stories, and a few surprising strategies to help you stick with your plans long after January fades.💡 Whether you’re aiming to eat healthier, save more, or simply live with more intention, this episode is packed with motivation to get you started.👉 Hit play, and let’s kick off the year together with clarity, energy, and purpose!The top New Year's Resolutions are: exercise more eat healthier lose weightSetting a goal and knowing where to start is half the battle.

US ARMY GARRISON ITALY TREE LIGHTING CEREMONYWednesday, December 3 In Front of the Arena Bowling Center Beginning at 2 p.m. (14:00)Enjoy this annual community event that kicks off the holiday season! Community members of all ages can enjoy live music by the CYS Choir! You'll also enjoy delicious food, drinks, vin brule, holiday vendors, and a very special guest who will help us light our tree!Photos with Santa in his mobile workshop: 3:30-4:30 p.m. & 6:30-7 p.m.Natale in Veneto: Your Ultimate Vicenza Christmas GuideEpisode Description: Stop stressing and start celebrating! This episode is your essential holiday blueprint for the Vicenza area. We dive deep into the ultimate Christmas shopping list, revealing the thoughtful, personalized gifts to buy and the tacky, novelty items you must avoid. Plus, we give you the insider scoop on the most magical spots—from the city center's festive chalets to the must-see regional Christmas markets—and reveal exactly where to find Santa Claus and his elves for those perfect holiday pictures. Tune in to make this year's holiday season unforgettable.+The show goes beyond basic advice, offering concrete ways to maximize your holiday joy in the Veneto region. For the perfect picture with the Big Man, we pinpoint the popular "Santa Claus' Magic Village" located right in Piazza Duomo in the Vicenza city center. When it comes to finding unique treasures, we highlight the local artisans at the traditional wooden chalets in Piazza Biade and throughout the city and also suggest day trips to nearby major markets like Asiago's charming "I Giardini di Natale." Finally, save your money and avoid disappointment by skipping generic socks, cleaning supplies, and scented candles, which our research showed consistently rank among the worst gifts received. Instead, our gift segment focuses on giving memorable experiences or highly customized presents, ensuring your thoughtfulness shines through this festive season.

Main terms to know regarding tax relief here in Italy. IVA: is the acronym for the Italian equivalent of Value Added Tax (VAT). VAT: is a tax on goods and services, with different rates in Italy, such as the standard 22% rate. The Italian abbreviation "IVA" translates to VAT (Value Added Tax) in English. It stands for Imposta sul Valore Aggiunto and refers to the sales tax on goods and services in Italy. The most common Italian word for a bank check is assegno.Senza IVA=VAT-free purchasesThe IVA exemption program enables authorized individuals to purchase items for the home without paying the 22% Value Added Tax (IVA). The IVA exemption applies to household items which the customers intend to export when they leave the country. It does not apply to items to be used for commerce. The minimum purchase for receiving IVA exemption is €150.00The TRO website has many details to get you started. The knowledgeable staff are in Bldg 367 on Caserma Ederle or you can call them at 0444-71-5102 To know more about living in the Vicenza Military Community (VMC) follow us at The Garrison Outlook at www.army.mil/Italy

Where do you want to travel? How many countries do you want to visit?Are you up for exotic foods?Have you taken a train or ferry to a destination?Can you say hello and thank you in more than one language?One of the highlights of an overseas tour is the opportunityto travel. We all started with zero knowledge on where to go or why, so don't be afraid to try something new and you'll be travelling like a pro in no time. This episode will inspire you to travel to the many beautiful, exciting and sometimes otherworldly places that are easily accessible. For more info-see our ⁠Out and About⁠ page on The Garrison Outlook.

There are hundreds or thousands of websites related to traveling in Vicenza, Italy and Europe. We're including some that people have told us they use here to get out and about. In this episode we talked with 1st Sgt. Pioquinto from the USAG Italy HHC and Sabrina from the Relocation Readiness program at ACS to give perspective on how transportation is important to the Soldiers in the community and the family members served by ACS. This topic is so wide ranging that we only touched on the surface of some transportation options and have included many links below to help you during your tour here in Italy. CiaoThese links are only for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Travel Related Websites and AppsTrains:TrenItalia https://www.trenitalia.com/en.htmlItalo Treno https://www.italotreno.com/enItalia Rail https://www.italiarail.com/TrainLine https://www.thetrainline.com/en-usBuses:Vicenza Bus site and app https://www.svt.vi.it/enFlixBus (Europe wide travel) https://www.flixbus.com/Taxis:https://www.taxivicenza.it/en/https://radio-taxi.it/vicenza/https://apptaxi.it/en/ Uber https://www.uber.com/it/en/E-bikes and scooters:RideMovi https://ridemovi.app.link/ZduGyMtOD6Multi-transport search: https://www.mooneygo.it/cerca-e-acquista/enhttps://www.omio.com/Boat rental:https://www.clickandboat.com/en/Scooters:https://www.viator.com/blog/Know-Before-You-Go-Renting-a-Vespa-in-Italy/l98142Scooter rental https://riderly.com/rental-locations/italy/https://renting.cooltra.com/it/en/Airport Transfers:https://www.goopti.com/en/Planes and Nearby Airports:Venice Airport https://www.veneziaairport.it/en/Treviso Airport https://www.trevisoairport.it/en/Verona Airport https://www.aeroportoverona.it/en/Milan Malpensa https://www.milanomalpensa-airport.com/enMilan Linate https://www.milanolinate-airport.com/enMilan Bergamo https://www.milanbergamoairport.it/en/RyanAir https://www.ryanair.com/us/enWizzAir https://www.wizzair.com/en-gbITA Airways https://www.ita-airways.com/en_enSkyScanner flight research https://www.skyscanner.com/Trip research https://www.booking.com/index.html?lang=en-usOfficial City of Venice site https://www.veneziaunica.it/enhttps://events.veneziaunica.it/en/plan-your-trip/getting-around-venice

Guests in this episode include:Dan Pitchford, USAG Italy Safety Manager and Hap Harlow "Chief Pedal Pusher" and outdoor rec volunteer.This year's bike week festival schedule:Free bike maintenance, kids rodeo, safety checks, seminars, group rides, pro tips, local bike shops, win prizes and more.Monday May 12, (seminar) at 12 p.m.Tuesday May 13, (road ride) from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.Wednesday May 14, (cycling) gravel/mountain bike 6 a.m. and 11:40 a.m.Thursday May 15, (road ride) gravel/mountain bike 6 a.m. and 11:40 a.m. Friday May 16, (road and team cycling) gravel/mountain bike 6 a.m. and 11:40 a.m.-----------“Connecting People to Bikes” Cyclists, It’s time to launch BIKE SEASON 2025!   This FIFTH ANNUAL Bike Season brings together cyclists of all genres to grow our sport, enhance your fitness, and support our communities—all by connecting people to bikes.  We have more events planned this year than ever before, and more ways for you to participate!  Read on to see where you can join the action! We start the three-week string of BIKE FESTIVALS at Camp Darby, Ederle and Del Din, with Race Days to follow!Camp Darby April 30 April-2 May (second annual!)Del Din May 7- 8-9 (near the Shoppette)Ederle May 12-16 (in front of the Sports, Fitness and Aquatics Center) GRIO D’Italia comes to Vicenza!  May 23, We are planning a viewing/cheering site on the first climb into the Berici Hills, PLUS an ODR-Sponsored supported trip to see Stage 15 on May 25.    The BIKE FESTIVALS feature Free Bike Maintenance, Tips, Information, daily Talks on cycle topics (see the schedules)—PLUS—we are happy to announce Sponsorship by four local bike shops who will display expo and demo bikes—e-bikes, full-suspension, gravel, mountain and road—don’t miss it!  As always, this is an MWR and ODR sponsored, all volunteer event, partnering with VFW, BOSS, Red Cross, Wounded Warrior to bring our Communities a fantastic event! In addition to the Festivals, there are a series of group rides and local rides/races planned over the next couple months—see the calendar to find one that suits you—and link up with the community to participate.  There are more opportunities to see the Giro d’Italia later in May—details coming soon. If you are not already on Strava, join us at “USAG-Italy Cycling” for daily and weekly competitions and rides.  Also join the What’sApp USAG-Italy Cycle Group to stay abreast of regular rides and activities.  Finally, we want to invite all of YOU to help pull off the best Bike Season so far.  Here are some specific needs:1.  Youth Cycle Rodeo Planner 2. SME Speaker—Choose a topic and present it during Bike Fest3.  Race Support—officials, set up tear down, grill meisters?...4. Bike Mechanics (and apprentices—we’ll teach you!)5.  Daily set up and tear down/Tent manning—pick your times!6.  Giro Ride Set Up (23 and 25 May)7.  TMP DriversThere are many other opportunities to volunteer—and give back to the community some of what you love to do! *Sponsored by MWR, Sports, Fitness and Aquatics, BOSS, Outdoor Rec., Vicenza Library, Red Cross, WWP, VFW.

This episode tells the story of the Battle of Vicenza and how the streets we walk and drive on were the same routes used during the WWII Battle of Vicenza. Vicenza WWII original footageMeri Mion Long Lost Birthday Cake Happy BirthdayItalian and American group uncover World War II artifact near Caserma EderleItalian WWI and WWII museum in Montecchio Maggiore

Moving overseas is a challenge no matter how many times you do it. The subject matter experts on this week's Voices of Vicenza help explain the most important parts of a PCS (permanent change of station) and share some of their lessons learned to make your PCS a little less stressful. For detailed help on your PCS use our PCS Guide. https://home.army.mil/italy/my-garrison-Italy/pcsguidevicOr watch our video https://www.youtube.com/live/ZFOx-32oUak?si=zboHv6IN-krBkrMb

Moving overseas is a challenge no matter how many times you do it. The spouses and subject matter expert on this week's Voices of Vicenza help share some of their lessons learned to make your PCS (Permanent Change of Station) a little less stressful. For detailed help on your PCS use our PCS Guide. https://home.army.mil/italy/my-garrison-Italy/pcsguidevicOr watch our video https://www.youtube.com/live/ZFOx-32oUak?si=zboHv6IN-krBkrMb

Welcome to Italy!Join us as we talk with ourCultural Connections SME - Laura - about the 13 many towns close to USAG Italy.Cultural Connections will help familiarize you and your family with the USAG Italy military community and local Italian life as a whole.These resources focus on settling in to Italian life upon arrival and life 'outside the gate'.

USAG Italy's Garrison Commander, Col. Scott Horrigan, gives us the inside scoop on new and upcoming facilities and services around post!

Join Randy and Cayman in exploring coffee culture here in Italy, and learn how to order one like a pro! Find out why a frother is so important. And wait... what is a frother? Discover four places for your caffeinated tastetastic* coffee on Caserma Ederle.*Tastetastic is a term that fits just for this podcast. ;) Visit The Garrison Outlook to learn more about life in the Vicenza Military Community. Facebook Instagram YouTube

Voices of Vicenza will bring you a wide variety of topics related to things that affect your experience here in Italy. We'll keep it light and fun when we can. You'll hear from the many Voices in the community, including senior leaders, Soldiers, family members, local nationals, subject matter experts and anyone else that supports you. Visit ⁠The Garrison Outlook ⁠to learn more about life in the Vicenza Military Community. ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠YouTube